Gumayusi Shares About T1’s Victory
In the first match of the LCK Summer 2024 playoffs, T1 convincingly defeated KT Rolster. Not only was it a dominant performance, but T1 also brought out some quite interesting “unusual” picks. For example, Zeus’s Olaf (who secured a pentakill for T1’s Top Lane) and Nilah in the hands of Gumayusi. These champions are rarely seen (Olaf has only been picked in 2 games of LCK Summer 2024, and this was in the T1 – KT match). Gumayusi’s performance with Nilah was also noteworthy. Many fans believe that it was Gumayusi’s excellent team fight setups that allowed Zeus to shine amidst the KT encirclement.
However, in a post-match interview, Gumayusi candidly shared that T1 still has many unused options: “In fact, we not only prepared Nilah but also have many other choices. At that time, we were discussing which champion to pick. We had a fun conversation and finally decided on Nilah.” The short-range champion, which might seem at a disadvantage in the current meta, proved to be incredibly effective in the hands of the 2002-born AD Carry. In fact, Gumayusi’s Nilah was instrumental in two effective initiations that led T1 to victory and even helped his teammate Zeus secure a pentakill in this year’s Summer playoffs.
A Challenge from Gumayusi and T1 to Their Opponents
Many viewers might still remember that the undefeated T1 of Spring 2022 and the 2023 World Championship did not rely on the meta. They used champions suitable for each match, leveraging the diverse champion pool of their members. During that time, Faker was relieved of the burden to carry the team, allowing him to focus on calling plays, making plays, and enabling his teammates to shine. In the recent match against KT, Faker fulfilled those roles perfectly. Even when he played Smolder, Faker did not have to bear the burden of damage as Zeus, Gumayusi, and even Oner and Keria were always ready to speak up.
Once T1 shed the pressure and could play to their strengths, they become a terrifying force reminiscent of the one that triumphed at last year’s World Championship. And once T1 hits their stride, fans can certainly expect Faker and his teammates to recreate historical feats and truly become a great team in the annals of League of Legends.